Wolves New Captain

Mick McCarthy making Roger Johnson our new captain is for me the best news we have had as Wolves fans since we signed the player.

Johnson has already captained former sides Wycombe and Cardiff, and with his natural leadership skills already shining through the decision seems a sensible one.

McCarthy has always sung the praises of Karl Henry so this decision may not have come easily for him; the move may be one of the most important of our pre-season.

It may have been close on two years ago when Mick basically said that if Henry is fit he plays- as team and club captain he was practically guaranteed a place in the starting line-up week in, week out but that very luxury appears no more.

Henry was clearly proud of his roots, proud of the shirt, proud of leading out Wolverhampton Wanderers. We all like a traditional tough tackling midfielder and Henry had the attributes; somewhere at the start of last season however he lost sight of what he was trying to achieve and the outcome was not to the benefit of himself or his team.

Already under the media glare from the Newcastle and Fulham games, Henry chose a trip to Wigan to launch a diabolical tackle that could easily have ended a players career. He was sent off and we lost to one of the sides we knew would be in or around us.

Henry waited until the end of the season to admit his game had changed as a result and we collectively suffered for it. Sadly, he appeared to relish the bad boy image he was been painted as.

This proved no more obvious in our greatest hour of need. With our survival hopes falling apart on the last day at home to Blackburn, Henry, already on a booking raised his hands to another player and should have been sent off. What would have happened to us then I prefer not to imagine. His reaction to being called over by the ref was his usual smirk.

His game has suffered as result of his arrogance, and I am glad that Mick has stepped in with a strong decision.

Some fans are complaining that Johnson has only just arrived and think the job should have gone to someone else. I think his recent arrival puts him in better stead rather than promoting from within, so to speak.

The bonus news is that if Johson is not up for the job, Stephen Ward is ready to step up.

Comments

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Wolves fans have been screaming for a hard working, Hard talking and No nonsense Captain for years........Bring on RJ. A great decision by MM. Give us another CB or LB and we are ready to take on the Prem. If we can play 4-4-2 and get Doyler and Fletch working together then Mid-table is a good possibilty. Come on me Babbies!!!!!

Great article, Yorkie: fully endorse the sentiments, that is, as long as you were speaking ironically about Ward. Because of his irresponsibility Henry forfeited his right to remain as captain. Now that he has to rely on his performances for selection, he will have to earn his place in the side ... surely?

please please please get that left back in....
that way we dont have to worry about big george or ward, or any other substandard defender taking the place....
ward is fine up front, and should be for attacking cover only...

I agree with Sean, Bridge did not look good when he was at West Ham. Whilst Big George may trip over his own face at times, on his day he is a colossus.
...And whilst i'm talking crazy, am i the only one who thinks that Hunty would make an excellent left back???
UTW!!

Sean, I think I copyrighted Curious George last season! Banksy, I was hoping everything would have a moment of panic seeing Ward's face under a New captain headline. He was captain at Ipswich however so he is not that far down the pecking order! Unless that was Mick's sense of humour at play also. Bridge did not do much for West Ham last season but look at the quality they had at their disposal; that squad had more than enough to stay up so the finger has to be pointed at Grant. Hodgson did well at Albion, Birmingham and West Ham stuck with their managers who were under question and ended up relegated. From the other sackings, the most absurd for me was Chris Hughton and whilst they stayed up with relative ease I think they will find the coming season a lot more difficult. They sold their best striker, they have lost the midfield- they are one side I hope we will be finishing above. Well to close, it seems that the appointment of Johnson as captain has been one of Mick's most celebrated decisions.